Mangalore, Dec 30: Union Minister for Transport, Road and Highways Oscar Fernandes said by the end of January 2014, the restoration work of Shiradi Ghat will be completed at the estimated cost of Rs. 85 crore. It is the permanent solution and within 18 months Shiradi Ghat will be made totally motorable.
Addressing the press meet held at Circuit House on December 30, Monday, he said that the permanent work for the Shiradi Ghat will be under taken in two stages through concretization and asphalt ion of the roads. The action plan in this regard is already made and has already sought permission from the Forest Department.
Fernandes said that the spring water which comes from beneath the road in Shiradi Ghat affects the roads which are unnatural. The centre also plans to set up tunnel roads in Shiradi Ghats and it will also avoid cutting of trees in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The centre has already approached Japanese agency in this regard, he said.
He also said that the repair work taking place in Shiradi Ghat will be updated in the Highway authority website daily, so that people become confident of central government project.
Oscar also said that proposal has been sent to Public Works Department Minister in regard to set up a connecting road near Women’s Polytechnic College till Mangalore International Airport which will reduce the travel time.
The Government has also sanctioned a sum of Rs 40 crore for the construction of Nanthoor Cross and amount of Rs 22 crore for the setting up of service roads from B.C.Road to Surathkal, he said.
Oscar said that Union Government is trying to implement electronic toll collection which has been functioning in Tumkur and Davangere in Tumkur and Davangere. This system is made to pay, where motorists can pay through mobile phones.
State minister for Public Works C Mahadevappa, State minister for forest and ecology B.Ramanath Rai, Minister urban development Vinay Kumar Sorake, State minister for health and family welfare U.T.Khadar, MLA Shakunthala Shetty and others were present.
